Bend ICU launched blood product tubing trial Dec. 4

As part of the new ICU design VVSA (vertical value stream analysis) the increased distance between the blood bank and location of the new tower was identified as a point of concern. A cross departmental team has been collaborating on a joint project to test using the pneumatic tube (PT) system to send blood products to the current ICU. 

Tubing blood products will be a valuable option to assure that needed transfusions are timely. A pilot will be tested in the current ICU during the tower build project. Concerns that this is safe for patients and caregivers have been addressed by the policies and procedures being adopted. 

The trial launched on Dec. 4. A few things for you to know:

• The trial is limited to blood needs for Bend ICU patients only. Other departments will not be permitted to use the ICU PT system to request blood for their patients.
• Certain blood products (aliquots in syringes, biohazard autologous units and spiked or otherwise open units) are not included in this trial. The existing process of walking these items to/from the lab will continue.
• Massive transfusion blood needs are also exempt from this trial.
• An updated policy (document number 7853) has been written and is available in document library.
• The trial will run Dec. 4 to April 4.
• If successful, the process may be spread to other locations.

Many thanks to Kate Hostetler (Critical Care RN), Mabel Adams (Blood Bank), Janet Sullivan (Infection Prevention) and Tom Newton (Facilities) for working diligently on this exciting project for the past few months. 

If you have any questions about this pilot, please contact Selena Smith at selsmith@stcharleshealthcare.org.